A lesson of history that has yet to be learnt in Britain is that Christianity thrives under persecution. And so, it would seem, does Islam. In both faiths, martyrs are sanctified in Heaven if they sacrifice themselves for their faith.

This means that, as sure as the fall of Adam followed the temptation of Eve, Islam and Christianity will both thrive on our campuses, to a degree that might still surprise. And so will the new religion, secularism.

It needs saying that attempts to restrict conservative evangelical Christianity and extremist Islam will result in precisely the opposite reaction to that intended, as will any hurried legislation passed in response to the acquittal of Nick Griffin, of the BNP. These manifestations of fundamentalist secularism will merely create harder fanatics of all religions, including atheism.

David Starkey, the historian, gave warning this week that we must learn the lesson of history and put religion back in its box if this country is not to suffer a return to the dark days of religious conflict before the 1668 conquest by the secular Dutch. It is probably too late to do that. But the security blanket of woolly Anglican liberalism that has traditionally protected these isles from the more extreme religiosities, whether of secularism, Islam or Christianity, is worn thin. As the Dalai Lama said in Tokyo this week: “Love and compassion attracts, hatred and anger repels.”

Maybe the students of the 1960s got something right. Their love-in culture seems so innocent, compared with what is happening now.

Soon after his audience with the Pope in Rome next week, Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, will deliver a lecture examining the present complexities within secularism, freedom and faith. In a characteristically dense and academic paper, he will scrutinise the new doctrine of secularism, as promoted by atheists such as Richard Dawkins, and the role of faith within secularising societies. He will draw on his recent visit to China, the ultimate in secularised countries, where faith is being brought back from the margins. Dr Williams will argue that faith must play an active role in developing a coherent society.

The Archbishop’s careful and complex arguments do not always make the impact he intends. Were we all to adopt his nuanced approach, it is highly likely that many of the present difficulties surrounding religious extremism would disappear into the age-old conflict between rhetoric and philosophy. Arguments are what student unions thrive on. It seems bizarre beyond belief to attempt to stifle some of the most fundamental arguments of all by banning student Christian unions.

Times recommends

• Oxford moves towards going private
• Poorer pupils to get elite university places
• University black hole as applicants surge